Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-03
The Secret of Mr.. CleveIand's Sue
cess.


The hostility to Mr.. Cleveland in his
own party is much less marked than il
was few months ago. The number OF
Democrats OF prominence who express
dissatisfaction with him through the me-
| dunn OF the convenient interviewer is
growing smaller. Even those who in
duIge in little filings at him are careful to
say that they think ne will be the party's
! standard-bearer again.
About all the hostility that has ever been
shown towards him has resulted from his
refusal to ignore his own and bis party's
| pledges respecting the civil service law.
Politicians who expected to control GER
tain offices, and ofice-seekers who failed
TO get the Offices they wanted were dis
appointed and angry, and gave express
sion to their feelings in words that the
enemies Of the Democratic party were
glad to put into print with the hope OF
making breach between the President
| and his party.
a sober second thought has convinced
the great majority Of even those who were
most bitter in their hostility that the
course OF the President with respect to
the offices has benefited rather than
harmed the party. What the people want
is honest ana economical government.
They do not care about the little one
horse post Offices and clsrkships which
the average politician prizes 80 highly.
They want the thieves turned out Of Office
and punished and an end put to corrup-
ton. They will ignore party ties to sup
port man who 10 honest and determined
10 do what is right without regard TO coz
sequences, and they will retain In power
party that keeps Its pledges.
The political history OF this country is
full of instances where the dominant
party was overthrown because the
opposition was led by those who had m ade
record for integrity in public affairs.
Mr.. Tilden was able TO Overwhelmingly
defeat the dominant party in New York,
and, that too, without the assistance of
single Federal or State official, because
he had made a record as a ring smasher
and the enemy OF thieves in high places.
Mr.. Cleveland was nominated for Presi-
deut and elected because he had been
true to the people and their interests.
Integrity in public as we'll as in private
affairs has its rewards, and MIR. Cleve-
land, if be has not been governed in his
course by sincere convictions OF right,
has been shrewd enough to see that If he
stood by the people they would stand by
him. a sincere devotion to the public
welfare never falls to touch the heart of
the masses, and they are quick to detect
false pretenses and false logic.
Mr.. Cleveland has made mistakes, but
public confidence in the integrity Of bis
purposes remains mistaken. The NUT
terings of discontinued politicians have
not weakened his hold upon the people.
The unbiased statement OF the National
Civil Service Reform League q few days
ago that where the civil service reform
rules have been adhered to strictly there
the Democratic party has grown stronger,
and in the few localities where
these rules have been broken by
by the persistence of aggressive party
leaders the party has lost ground, en-
phasises the wisdom OF Mr.. Cleveland's
course. II be is renominated, and the
indications are that he will be, it will not
be because he has shown himself to be a
great statesman or a great President,
but because he has impressed the people
with the belief that he is an honest man
and aims to administer the government
solely in their interest.